Closure cap for fuel tanks



Oct. 9, 1951 o. p. HANsoN, JR 2,570,550

cLosURE CAP FOR FUEL TANKS Filed March 7, 1949 Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED sTATss TENT oeFics 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fuel tank closure devices and more particularly toa theft proof locking device simil-ar to those disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 48,020, filed September 7, 1948.

'In automobiles and other vehicles which are propelled by gasoline or other fuel, the fuel tank filler 'opening is usually closed by Ia removable filler cap. Careless attendants in service stations frequently fail to replace these caps after filling the "tank, which results in loss of valuable fuel by sp-illage `on the streets and highways with its attendant re hazard, and also disconcertment to the vehicle operator since he must procure another cap. Since caps of this type are easily accessible and readily removable, they also oiier a temptation to thieves who either abscond with the cap itself, or the contents of the tank which may Ibe removed by a syphon hose.

rDevices have been proposedintended to obviate some of the foregoing disadvantages `of caps of this type, but so far as is known, they have been lcomplicated in construction, expensive to manufacture, and not lfully satisfactory in obviating all of th-e disadvantages.'

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provi-de an improved attachment for vehicle fuel tanks which ymay be permanently attached to the filler neck or pipe thereof, yet permit filling of the tank.

Another object is to provide a `simplified locking device for securing a fuel tank closure device to the tank lagainst unauthorized removal therefrom.V

Another object is to provide a closure locking device which automatically assumes a position in the tank ller neck to lock the d-evicethereto when the closure is inserted therein.

Another object is to provide a closure locking devicewhich resiliently urges the closure'- onto the `top of the filler neck, the resilient urge being adjustable.

Another object is to provide a closure device which has lportions extend-ing into the filler neck but obviates obstruction of the flow of fuel when the tank is being lled.

A further object is to provide an improved cap which will open automatically upon application of pressure thereto by the end of a filler -hose nozzle and will automatically assume a closed position when the nozzle is removed.

Still further objects, advantages, and salient features will become apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan of the lclosure device, a

2 portion being broken away to show certain details;

Figure 2 is a Section taken on line 2--2, Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken ure 2; and

Figure 5 is a'section taken on line 5 5, Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing the closure I0, which constitutes the subject'ofthe invention, is shown attached to a "conventional fuel tank ller neck I I, the latter 'being connected at its lower end to the fuel tank (not shown). The closure comprises a plate I2, which rests upon the 'top ange I3 of the ller neck, and a downwardly extending tubular portion I4 which is provided with slots I5, thus forming a plurality of stri-ps I6. These strips are connected at their lower ends by a base I1 of cruciform shape, as shown Ain Figure 5, to provide cut-out portions lil.` The plate lI0 and the tubular portion depending therefrom may be made as an integral piece of sheet metal suitably drawn and blanked.

A U-shaped member I9 having'a bight portion 20 Iat its lower end and upwardly extending resilient Ilegs 2| is disposed around the tubular depending portion just described. This member is secured to the downwardly extending tubular member by a screw 22 which threadedly engages ythe bight portion by nuts 23 secured to the bight portion by solder, or the like, the screw passing through a hole in the base I'I and having a spring 2A interposed between the base I'I and the head 25 of the screw, as shown in Figure 2.

In applying the closure to the filler neck, the former is inserted into the latter until the plate I2 rests on flange I3 of th-e filler neck. The position of the legs 2| yof the U-shaped member is now somewhat as shown by the dotted line positions 2Ia. A screw driver or other tool is then 'applied to the head 25 `of screw 22 and a downward pressure is applied. The resilient legs then snap over the'reentrant rim 26 `of the flange I3 and when pressure is released on the screw the legs assume the full line position -beneath the flange as shown in Figure 2. If additional pressure between plate I2 and flange I3 is desired the spring 24 is compressed by rotating screw 22. The lower end of this screw is deformed as shown in Figure 2 to prevent its removal as it is apparent that if the `screw could be removed, the closure could be removed from the filler neck leaving the U-shaped member therein.

Flange I3 is normally provided With a pair of slots 21 which receive ears on the conventional closure cap (not shown) furnished with the tank. To guard against possible rotation of legs 2l relative to the flange and removal of the top ends of these legs through these slots, the legs are made somewhat wider than the slots as shown by portions 2B. It is apparent that even though portions 28 might be disposed beneath slots 26 they will always overlap, and prevent removal of the U-shaped member therethrough. A gasket 29 of cork or the like will normally be employed between plate I2 and flange I3 to prevent leakage therebetween.

The plate l2 is provided with a pair o f lugs 30 which carry a pivot pin 3| on which a valve 32 is adapted to pivot, the valve having ears 33,A se-A cured to one edge thereof, which engagethe pin. A suitable spring 34 is disposed about the kpin and urges the valve upwardly. A cap 35, secured at its lower edge to a downturned "flange 36 on'plate I2 'is formed with ai seat 31 against which the valve rests when'in closed position."

It will be noted that the slots or cut away portions at thesides and bottom of the tube Vprovide openings of suicient size through whichv the fuel may flow without'any substantial obstruction while the tank is being lled. It is also to be vobserved that the Vvalve construction is quite compact since the space within the. tube isutilized` to swing the valve into it as shown -by the dotted lines.

Having described the 'claimed as new is: '1. An attachment for a ller neck on a gasoline tank, tbe Eller neck being of the tvne having an inturned flange at its upper end with .a reentrant rim at the inner edge of the flange, comprising; an annular plate adapted to reston the outside surface of the flange, a cylindrical tubehaving its upper open end connected to the inner edge of 'the plate adapted to project downwardly into the neck, the tube being cup-shaped and having a transverse base at its lower end, the base having angularly spaced apertures therein to form 'a'spider between the apertures, the spider having radially extending legs, the side wall 'of the 'tube having longitudinally extending angularly spaced' apertures therein aligned at their lower ends with the apertures in the baseformi'ng legs therebetween which connect at their lower ends vwithouter ends of the radially extending legs of the spider, the apertures in the side walls pro- -viding conduits through which gasoline may iiow laterally toward the filler neck and thence downwardly into the tank,a U-shaped member having a bight portion spaced below the spider and-a pair of locking legs extending upwardly adjacent the tube, the upper free ends of the locking legs terminating outwardly of the rim andadapted to abut the lower surface of the flange, the locking legsbeing resiliently urged invention what is 4 outwardly by their connection with the bight portion, a screw extending through the central portion of the spider having an enlarged head disposed in spaced relation above the spider, the lower end of the screw threadedly engaging the bight portion, and a spring disposed between l the head and the upper surface of the spider the attachment is inserted into the ller neck to a position where the plate rests on the flange and a downward pressure is applied to the head of the screw, the free ends of the U-shaped member are rced downwardly beneath the reentrant rim andspring outwardly, release of pressure on the head of the screw permitting the free ends of the legs to resiliently engage the lower surface of the flange.

2.'In an attachment for a ller 'necklon a. gasoline, tank, the filler neck being ofthe type having an inturned flange at its upper end with a reentrant rim at the inner edge of the flange, the attachment including a plate adaptedto rest on the outside surface of the flange and carrying a downwardly extending tube adapted to be disposed within the ller neck, the improvement which comprises; a U-shaped member having a bight portion spaced below the lower lend of the tube and a pair of locking legs extending upwardly adjacent the tube having free ends adapted to ,engage the lower surface of the flange,'the vlocking Vlegs being resilientlyurged outwardly by their connection with the bight portion, resilient means urging the bightA ponl tion toward the lower end of the tube, and means within the tube connected to the bight portion adapted to be urged downwardly against. the urge of the resilient means for permitting the free ends of the locking legs to pass beneath the reentrant rim and automatically spring outwardly, release of the downward urge permitting the resilient Vmeans to resiliently urge the free ends of the locking legs upwardly against Ythe lower surface of the flange. f OLIVER D. HANSON, JR,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date 1,810,019 Jaworsky June 16, 1931 1,818,608 Chafkin Aug. 11, 1931 2,037,499 Collard Apr. 14, 1936 2,107,600 VDarms Feb. 8, 1938 2,284,107 Sullivan May 26, 1942 2,464,579 `Ho-vanian Mar. 15, 1949 2,503,031 Davidson v Apr. 4, 1950 

